Refrigerator car



Oct. 28, 1941.

- K. E. ZEIDLER REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed Nov. 1'7, 1959 -2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 28, 1941.

K. E. ZEIDLER REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed NOV. 17, 1959 'IES ...ruin-...Mins

. 2 sheetssheet l:a

[lll/mini" Kuri I Zelt/ler @fior/2y.;

frig'eration at certain seasons of the year.

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 u UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR CAR Kurt E. Zeidler, Chicago, Ill.,v assignor, by mesne assignments, to Standard Railway Devices Company, a corporation of Delaware Application November 17, 12939', Serial No. 304,989

16 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars used to -transport perishable commodities at a predetermined temperature. The essential .features of a refrigerator car are an insulated body to vprevent or retardingress of heat during warm weather and egress of heat during cold weather and a cooling means and a heating means to be used'during warm and cold weather respectively.

This invention applies particularly to cars in which the cooling means, preferably containers for water ice, eutectic ice, brine or dry ice, are disposed immediately below the roof of the car. The lading is supported in spaced relation to the floor by a'foraminous rack. Flues, preferably associated with the side walls of the car, communicate between the cooling means and the the circulation of air.y The path is from the cooling means downwardly through aforemenf 'tioned flues, through the space under the floor rack, upwardly through the lading compartment thereby cooling the lading, and finally to the cooling means from where the cycle is repeated.

Many commodities, such as potatoes and inelo'ns, can be transported safely at any temperature within a relatively wide range and, therefore, do not requirer either heating or re- Some Icommodities, including many types of fresh fruits andvegetables, give off heat of respiration during the ripening thereof. In either of `these cases it is desirable to circulate fresh air from outside the car in closecontact with the commodity to carry away the heat of respiration, thereby preventing excessively high tempera'tures with consequent spoilage. Ventilated box cars are often usedfor this purpose, particularly in the southern part of the country. A car also commonly used is a combination refrigerator, heater and ventilator. f

Itis an object of this invention to provide a car equipped with refrigerating facilities of the 'overhead' bunker type and which may be used 'when desired'to ventilate or supply fresh air to the lading space of the car without making any changes in the structure thereof. A further object is to provide facilities for Ventilating the car in such a manner that the ventilation facilities donot effect the efficiency of the refrigeration of the car and vice versa.

e" Another object is to prevent melted refrigerant :from reaching the lading space of the car when the car is vbeing refrigerated. Itisacommon practice to provide apertures` in the' containers so ,that y yentllating fair mayliiiow through Ithe j hatches into the containers and then through the apertures, thereby entering the lading space. Rain from outside the car or melted refrigerant from the container may splash through the apertures into the lading space with consequent damage to the lading. I prevent this damage by providing a Ventilating duct arranged so that liquid cannot splash from the container into the lading space. I further provide means to return any splashing liquid back to the container.

The hatch plugs or hatch covers of refrigerator cars are often partly opened during ventilation so that Ventilating air may flow through the hatch into the interior of the car. In such a case rain or snow is also likely to accompany the air into the 'car with consequent damage to the lading. It is an object of the invention to provide means to catch the rain or snow and divert it to the refrigerant containerY where it will do no damage.

Another object is to insulate the outer roof sheets from the refrigerant container. When the car is being refrigerated, the refrigerant containers are cold and the exterior roof is often `warm Vdue to the suns rays falling thereon. I provide a hatch frame in two pieces, one secured to the roof and the other to the refrigerant container with insulation interposed between the two pieces. This prevents heat conduction through the hatch frame and therefore excessive ice meltage, as well as adding to the efficiency of the" refrigeration.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description by referring to the accompanying drawings.

i In the drawings: Fig. lis a transverse section of a Arefrigerator car embodying my invention; the left hatch on the drawing being shown with a Ventilating duct and the right hatch without such a duct.

Fig.` 2 is a sectiony on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similiar to a portion of Fig. 1 showing a modified form of hatch frame. y The general parts 4of the refrigerator car shown are insulated roof 2, side Walls 3, floor 4, hatches 5, refrigerant containers 6, side wall iiues l, foraminous floor rack 8 and space 9 between nack 8 and floor 4. The refrigerant containers 6 are positioned directly below the roof A2 and adjacent the side walls 3, and are supported by the carlines 9 with the brackets l0 extending outwardly therefrom. A drip pan I2 isV provided belovir each container 6 and a parbeing provided by tain-er 6.,;

tition I4 is Secured in an upst'anding position at the edge of each drip pan I2. The drip pans I2Y and partitions I4 cooperate with the roof 2 and side walls 3 to form enclosing structures II around the containers (i, air inlet openings I5 spacing the partitions I4 from partitions I4 are spaced apart the roof l2. The to form". the warm air duct I6. Air discharge openings II kwhich lead to by spacing the drip pans I2 from the walls 3.

Air circulation is as follows: Air in the ladingcompartment I8 is warmed by contactA with the lading and rises tures II through the the flues. 1 `are formed duct I6 and air inletwopen-l ings I5.l The air is cooled Yby vcontact with theA` ainers 6 and falls by reason "of refrigerant cont its greater densi ings I1 and flues rises through the rack mentl.

ty through vthe discharge open- I to thespace Figs. 1 and 2 areeach comprised offan innerV piece 26 and yan outerpieo'e`,21jttith insuiatihg brooks `2t inter- :posed therebetween. vThe inner' prece V 26 consistsof anfup'standing 'jacket 29 s'ecuredto the top: 3|, or theloohtainerso that the 4jaoizetm -encircles ario-.pening 3i) in thetop 3I of the'conr'I-he jacket v2}lis secured (sujch as by riveting or welding) to the' vtop 3`Iofthe container 6 in watertightrelation therewith so that .liquid cannot leak into the roof insulation. The outerpiece'Z'I consists cfa cap 35 overlying the yjacket 29 and secured, preferably by welding',to

'W As shown at the right hand 5V the roof sheets 3l., l Y 'hatch inFig. 01, the hatch '5 'may 'be closed by an insulated'plug 38 having a gasket 39 'of 4sponge rubbenor other 'pliable material, interposed -betwentheplug '3'3 andthe outer piece 21 of the v"ha'tcl'i frame l n that 'the 'inner piece@ 2t or -the haten frame completely insulatedf fro'rnthe "outside 'tempera- 'ture-lso that yno direct path through-metal yis provided for "flow of h'eat'to the refrigerant -con- `rtairfierl.

The ierthatioh 'trahi-e in FigJ-ifwhichis also f gho'wnsecti'o'n 'ing Fig. 2; has the ventilation duct" 45 'associated therewith. :The inner piece to enter the enclosing struc- '9 whenceit' 8 to the lading -compart- 25;V It should' be knoted. rromr'ig. i' d refrigerant container 6.

Fig. 2. The inclined web 53 of the hatch frame side 5I is provided with-apertures 1| for flow of Ventilating air into the duct 45, as shown by the arrows'lZ in Fig. 1. The air flows out of the Ventilating duct 45 through the opening`14 in,

the horizontal leg 68 of theduct 45 adjacent the The air then flows downwardly through the air duct I6 to the lading compartment I8 of the car.

The plug 38 shown in the right half of Fig. 1

is maintained in the position shown when the car 1s to be refrigerated so that warm air` can not f leak into the refrigerant container 6, and melt the refrigerant contained therein. The plug 38 Ais usually hinged tothe roof of the car and when L it is desired to ventilate, the plug is inclined at may flow from outside the car into the .Ventilatp an angle of possibly so that Ventilating air ing duct and thence into the lading compartment IB. Any liquid, such as rain or melted .snow,..which might kaccompany the air into ythe .ventilation -duct '45 is drained lthrough the apere tures` I3` into the refrigerant container@ from where it vis eitherydrained bythe means :com- A.mcn'ly provided for draining. melted refrigerant orretained in thek containerl where it will not 4vdarriag-e vthe glading. :During service :movements rof `the car when the refrigerantA container 6 n-lled with melftedireirigerant orfotherliqui'delthe 1 liquidymay--splash through v'the'.apertures 'I-I into Sie y frames and roof`structure, ,-A ventilation duct '88 substantially vertical sides, 'thef'sides 46` extending transverselyof the car being flared outwardly attire lwerjpart4l thereof, as showniin--Fig 2. The 'side 49 remote vfro'rn the ventilation duct 45 is substantially plane. yThe side '51 adjacentfthe ventilation duct 45 'isjoifvset' inwardly and comprises the Vinwardly offset `wall 52A'fand the lin'- clined web I53 connecting the wall 52 to the 4body part`55 of the side 5I. A flashing 58 is provided.

having a vertical portion 59,3horizontalportion 5i) Vand; an inclined'portion 6I connecting Vthe horizontal Vand Verticalt portions. The yVertical portion'fais secured to the hatch Vframe side (at ISS-)fin atwisej relation thereto, thereby providing/the vertical ieg 'te ort-he venta-ation lduct the lVentilation duct 45,` which Acase saidliquid 4is returned through the apertures `'I8 back to the container 6 fand does rrotreach the lading com- .parliament ii?.` i n j si-defs ildp-of the hatchtframe `8-.5 are substantially symmetrical. This type vof hatch frame has .been used on a largej numberl of recentlyfbui'lt refrigerator cars and has for one o -f its features the substantially` horizontal websl 86 "which are adapted to restf-upon car-lines and/:or other .frame members to rigidly Asupport the hatch .may beappl-,ied to a car `having lthis type ofhatch frame by using 4a flashing V89 somewhat YsimilarV -to `that heretofore `described Yand by lprci/iding openulhgsnel a :web .sa of the hateh'frame as .for nthe ,Ventilating .air to enter the lduct 88;l otherwise similarto that shown in Figs.- 1 `and 2.`

the-construction shown in Fig; -3 ,is Substantially Fig `1 shows la car vhavingra Ventilating jappliedto the hatch on the Vleftlside `oflthe car ,whiled'the hand hatch is nnot prov-idedfwiltli a Iventilatlngv duct. `It 'is a' ,matter .of opinion 'amongipractical railroad men as to `fthe .amount .of''venti'latingY air requiredan'd'conse Y Y u; K l p n quentl` the 'number of ducts required. V4It is mantainstiby someth'at .the ,hatches adacent -the ends noff--the 'car-cnw .need he provided with .ventral-ing'.direte` 45 between-the vertieai *portion '59 ofthe flashing n 58 and the yoffset wall 52 of the hatch frame side 5I.` 'The horizontal-portion' v0f Lthe flashingl 58 overhangs the sfide 61 Hof the refrigerant container 1Ii and ifs support-'ed' by members G6, such 'as-Z-lcars;y arranged as cantilever beams secured to 'the-container Fandoverhanging the sideSfI thereof; "The horizontallegB8 uofjthe ventilate ving duct 45 lis defined bythe horizontal vport-ion FGI) of thefi'ashingifthe top L3I of theI refrigerant container 'El and the 'depending marginal-flanges 59?#69' o'fthe flashing'fBBjas iisclearly shown in Cthers' maintain ithat all lhatches on one" side of thecar only should .have Ventilating ducts,l while str1-1,@there ,prefer to provide Ventilating uotslon f' 'vffdesignand'it'is'not intended tolimit'the i-nrn. he, moqif-ieation shown in rigsthe v Ventilating duct vassociated with said roof and 'communicating' between said hatch and the inlin saidceiling, lan aperture in said hatch frame and a Ventilating duct communicating between said aperture and said opening.

3. In a refrigerator car having a roof comprising an outer sheet and a ceiling, a hatch in the roof, a hatch frame encasing said hatch, a refrigerant container below said hatch 'and adapted to be loaded therethrough, an opening in said ceiling, anv aperture in the upper part of said hatch frame and a Ventilating duct communicating between said aperture and said opening.

4. In a refrigerator car having a roof comprising an outer sheet and a ceiling, a hatch in the roof, a hatch frame encasing said hatch, a refrigerant container below said hatch and adapted to be loaded therethrough, an opening in said ceiling, an aperture in said hatch frame, a lip on said hatch frame overhanging said aperture and a Ventilating duct communicating between said aperture and said opening.

5. In a refrigerator car having a roof comprising an outer sheet and a ceiling, a hatch in the roof, a hatch frame encasing said hatch, a refrigerant container below said hatch and adapted to be loaded therethrough, an opening in said ceiling, an aperture in the upper part of said hatch frame and a Ventilating duct communicating between said aperture and said opening and comprising a substantially'vertical portion associated with said frame and a substantially horizontal portion associated with the top of said container.

6. In a refrigerator car having a roof' comprising an outer sheet and a ceiling, a hatch in the roof, a hatch frame encasing said hatch, a refrigerant container below said hatch and adapted to be loaded therethrough, an opening in said ceiling, an aperture in the upper part of said hatch frame, a Ventilating duct communieating between said aperture and said opening and comprising a substantially vertical portion associated with said frame and a substantially horizontal portion associated with the top of said container and a relatively small aperture providing communication between said duct and said container substantially below said vertical portion.

7. In a refrigerator car having a roof comprising an outer sheet and a ceiling in spaced apart relation, spaced apart walls, a hatch in said roof adjacent each wall, a refrigerant container below each hatch and adapted to be loaded therethrough, said containers being spaced apart adjacent the center of the car to provide a ue therebetween, which flue communicates at the lower part thereof with the lading compartment of the car and a Ventilating duct disposed at least partially above the level of said ceiling and providing communication between one of said hatches and the upper part of said flue.

8. In a refrigerator car having a roof, a refrigerant container below the roof, a hatch in said roof arranged for loading refrigerant into said container and a hatch frame encasing said hatch,.said frame comprising an upper portion associated with the exterior of said roofja lower portion 'associated with lsaid container, an i'nsulating hatch cover arranged to `seat on substantially all of the upper portion which Aextends within said hatch and aninsulatingY piece extending between said upper and lower portions.

9. In a refrigerator car having ra roof, a refrigerant containeri below the roof, a hatch vin said roof arranged for loading refrigerant into said container, a hatch frame encasing said hatch, said frame comprising an upper portion ass-ociated with the exterior of said roof,.a lower portion associated with lsaid container. and an insulating piece' fextendingbetween said upper and lower portions, said lower portion beingse'- cured to said container in water-tight relation therewith, and an insulating hatch cover adapted to seat on the part of said upper portion in contact with said insulating piece. -l f 1 10. In a refrigerator car having a roof, a refrigerant container below the roof, a hatch in said roof arranged for loading refrigerantinto said container, a hatch frame encasing said f hatch, said frame comprising an upper portion associated with the exterior of said roof, a lower portion associated with said container and an insulating piece extending between said upper and lower portions and an insulating hatch cover adapted to seat on the part of said upper portion in contact with said insulating piece.

11. In a refrigerator car having a roof comprising an outer sheet and ceiling in spaced apart relation, a pair of spaced apart refrigerant containers disposed below said roof and above the lading compartment of the car, a hatch in said roof above each of said containers for loading refrigerant into the containers, a duct between said containers extending upwardly from the upper part of the lading compartment, and a ventilating duct disposed at least partially7 above the level of said ceiling and arranged to communicate between one of said hatches and said iirst mentioned duct.

12. In a refrigerator car having a roof comprising an outer sheet and ceiling in spaced apart relation, a pair of spaced apart refrigerant containers disposed below said roof and above the lading compartment of the car, a hatch in said roof above each of said containers for loading refrigerant into the containers, a duct between said containers extending upwardly from the upper part of the lading compartment, and a Ventilating duct disposed at least partially between said outer sheet and said ceiling and arranged to communicate between one of said hatches and said first mentioned duct.

13. In a refrigerator car having a roof comprising an outer sheet and ceiling in spaced apart relation, a pair of spaced apart refrigerant containers disposed below said roof and above the lading compartment of the car, a hatch in said roof above each of said containers for loading refrigerant into the containers, a duct between said containers extending upwardly from the upper part of the lading compartment, a Ventilating duct disposed at least partially above the level of said ceiling and arranged to communicate between one of said hatches and said rst mentioned duct, and means to drain liquid from said Ventilating duct to one of the refrigerant containers.

14. In a refrigerator car having a roof comprising an outer sheet and ceiling in spaced apart relation, a pair of spaced apart refrigerant containers disposed below vsaid roof' andzfab'ove thezla-ding `compartment iof the carpa'hatch in saidv roof above each of said containers l'for load- 1ing-refrigerant :into the containers; -a duct -be- :tween -said container 1'extending "upwardly `from r'. r4the upper part of th'e lading compartmentj a Ventilating ductV arranged ytocommunicate be- --tweenjone of saidhatches and said rst mentioned duct, =said Ventilating :duct comprising 'a t'ortuous passageA to retard ow -of liquid therefthrough, and means to drain liquid from 'said Ventilating duetto orre -of the refrigerant containera f i 115. In a refrigerator car :having a roof comprising `an :outer sheet and ceiling in :spaced apart relation, a pair of spaced lapart refrigerfant -fcontainers disposed below said roof and above 'the lading compartment rof the car,` a

'hatch in -sa-id roof above Y'each Iof said containers for loading refrigerant into the containers,V a

duct between said container extending upward- :ly from the upper part of the ilading compartiment', faventilatingduct arranged to communi- :cate between orIei `of :said'fhatchesf-and said 'rst .mentioned duct, fsald Ventilating' duct :compris ing a 'p1ura1'ity -of aneularly disposed, :parts 'toV rife tardl f-flowof liquid therethrough, ,and means v.to

drain liquid from said ventilatinglductjto one yof the -refrigerant containers.y v -Y y Y e f 16,.k In a .refrigerator car `having ,a vroof comprising an outer -she'et and ceiling in vspaced fapart'relation, Aa pairrof spaced apart .refrigerf l kant containers disposed below said rvroof and -above the lading lcompartment Aof the cana Ahatch insaid roof abovefeach of said containers for loading refrigerant `into thev containers, .a duct betweenfsaid container. extending upwardly from the upper part of the .lading compartment, a Ventilating duct arranged to communicate be,- tween one of said hatches and said first mentioned duct, means to retard flow of liquid through said Ventilating duct, and means lto drain liquid -from said Ventilating duct to` one of the refrigerantcontainers. 4 l

KURT ZEIDLER. 

